It’s becoming more and more commonplace to see programs using flashcards and worksheets in their attempt to jumpstart literacy development. These early academic activities are touted as best approaches and provide tangible take-homes for anxious parents who don’t want their children to “get behind.” Unfortunately, what’s really important to early literacy is largely being overlooked and the best opportunities to make learning matter are going unnoticed.These programs need to stop the nonsense an ...
Recently I finished the book Free to Learn by Peter Gray. This book was very thought-provoking, challenging some of my ideas and affirming others. One of those things that Peter Gray repeated in various ways is that play is freedom. He stressed the freedom to quit (to decide when to stop doing the activity). But I think that the freedom to use whatever resources are needed is important, too. I'm a big advocate of children's creativity. I encourage children to fo ...
I think if I had heard that word one more time I would have lost it! President Trump closed his inauguration speech with a barrage of agains like I have never heard before. Do I think that there are many things about this country that could improve? Of course! But that is not the message that I got from President Trump's speech. The message that I heard, was that we're not good enough. I am still trying to pick the a,g,a,i and n's out of my ears. Because if they remain in there too long th ...
Last week, I introduced my kids to the story of Sylvia Mendez, winner of the 2010 Medal of Freedom for her work (and the work of her parents) in the desegregation of California schools in the 1940s. Their work allowed Mexican children to be integrated into the general public schools alongside their white peers. This was a decade before the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education case. My fifth graders were angry that Sylvia and other Mexicans had been forced to go to a run-down school next to a ...
Videos can be a great way to deliver content learning to students. But how do you leverage video instruction to maximize learning? After all, school isn't the movies. EDPuzzle I use EDPuzzle to prep videos for instruction. You can sign up for free as a Teacher, upload and trim YouTube or other videos, and insert questions (quizzes) or prompts for students to answer or discuss during the video. Students sign in with a Join Code you give them or via their Google Classroom email. I recommend ...
Vicki Davis with Meri Walker
 | Our guest is doing amazing work with apps and art, and brings us a list of great digital tools to engage your student's. Follow: @coolcatteacher @multitouch @iPhoneArtGirl @bamradionetwork |
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Vicki Davis with Alicia Roberts
 | In this segment, we talk about the dangers of teaching without balance. What is balance? How does balance lead to burnout? What are the red flags that signal you are slipping into the danger zone? What should you do? Follow: @coolcatteacher @teach2inspireu @bamradionetwork |
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Vicki Davis with Rodney Turner
 | Keeping with the spirit of the season, we ask our guest to reflect on a few of the things he loves about teaching.. Follow: @coolcatteacher @techyturner @bamradionetwork |
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